Contaminated fluid treatment system and apparatus

ABSTRACT

In one aspect the invention provides an apparatus for treating contaminated fluid. The apparatus comprises a base member, a peripheral containment wall connected to the base member defining a containment volume, a dividing member for dividing the containment volume into an evaporation region for receiving contaminated fluid and a boiler region for heating contaminated fluid. The evaporation region is substantially open to atmosphere and the boiler region is substantially closed and comprises an inlet to introduce contaminated fluid into the boiler region and an outlet to allow evaporated water to exit the boiler region. Heating means are provided to heat any contents in the boiler region while fluid transfer means transfer contaminated fluid from the evaporation region to the boiler region. Preferably, the boiler region is at least partially within the evaporation region. System and method aspects are also provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a regular application of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/422,630 filed Dec. 13, 2010 and entitled,“CONTAMINATED FLUID TREATMENT SYSTEM AND APPARATUS”, the entirety ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to treatment of contaminatedfluids and, more particularly, to a system and apparatus for reducingthe amount of contaminated fluids that typically exist at well drillingsites, such as waste water or drilling fluid, by evaporating and boilingoff at least a portion thereof for disposal and returning clean water tothe atmosphere.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Oil and gas well exploration, drilling or service operations oftenproduce significant quantities of contaminated fluids, such as wastewater, drilling mud or other drilling fluid. Containment and disposal ofthese contaminated fluids is expensive, especially where such fluidshave to be transported off-site for subsequent treatment and disposal.As such the prior art teaches various systems and apparatus fortreatment of these contaminated fluids, so as to reduce the amount offluid that must be collected and transported to off-site locations.

Canadian patent no. 2,535,672 (Patmore) discloses an apparatus, methodand system for treating contaminated water. The apparatus of Patmorecomprises a base member with a peripheral containment wall and having adividing member dividing the apparatus into a settling region and anevaporation region. The settling region comprises an inlet, weir means,and an outlet, and the evaporation region comprises an inlet and heatapplication means, the settling region outlet in fluid communicationwith the evaporation region inlet. The heat application means of Patmoreare either: (i) steam pipes or (ii) electric coils. Hatch grating andwalkway grating are optionally provided to create a cover for allowing aperson to walk across the apparatus, while not interfering with theevaporation process.

As another example, Canadian patent no. 2,531,870 (Gelleny et al.)teaches an evaporator for evaporating a waste material, comprising: a) atank, comprising side walls and a bottom forming a tank interior, thetank having at least one passage distal the bottom, extending betweenthe tank interior and atmosphere, the tank adapted to receive wastematerial; and b) heating means adapted to convert at least a portion ofthe waste material to a vapour when in the tank, the heating meansproximate to, but spaced from the bottom of the tank. The heating meansof Gelleny et al. is either: (i) a steam tube adapted to heat thecontents of the tank, (ii) an electric heater or (iii) both. A meshed orgrated cover, or partially meshed or grated cover, is optionallyprovided to keep workers, tools and debris out of the tank while stillallowing vapours to escape.

A third example is Canadian patent application no. 2,576,240 by Page etal. which teaches a waste water treatment system, comprising: aplatform; and a phase separation tank, evaporation tank and clean waterrecovery tank mounted together on the platform with a fluid transfersystem between the separation tank and the evaporation tank and acondenser for collecting evaporated water from the evaporation tank andproviding the evaporated water to the clean water recovery tank. To heatthe contaminated fluid, Page teaches either: (i) directing hot exhaustgases through exhaust piping which is disposed in the evaporation tankand contaminated fluid held therein, or (ii) directing steam through aseries of steam lines that are similarly disposed in the evaporationtank and the contaminated fluid held therein. The evaporation tank ofPage may include a peaked steam hood placed above said tank, to condenseevaporated water when steam recovery is desired.

However, these prior art systems and apparatus still leave room forimprovement, in particular with regards to evaporation efficiency.Typical prior art evaporator systems will only evaporate 2 m³ to 4 m³ ofwater per day.

Moreover, contaminated fluid in the well drilling sector often containsmany heavy solids, such as sand, sawdust, clay and gravel, as well asfluid contaminants, such as oil and diesel, and soap scum from washingmachines and spray wands used to clean worker clothing and drilling andservicing rig equipment. Over time, these contaminants build up in andalong the steam tubes, electric heaters, coils, exhaust piping, steamlines and other similar heat application means that are used to transferheat to the contaminated fluid. Such contaminant build up often requiresaround the clock supervision, clean out and maintenance of the heatapplication means by operators to ensure proper functioning of theheating component of such evaporators. Alternatively, complex separationsystems need be provided, such as the phase separation tank of Page orthe settling region of Patmore.

As such, there is also still room for improvement on the currentapparatus, systems and methods of the prior art with regards to dealingwith contaminant build up.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 shownplaced on a skid beside a fuel tank and a container;

FIG. 3 is a sectioned, front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a sectioned, front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is a sectioned, front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a sectioned, rear perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.1;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a sectioned, side perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.1;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is another front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view inside the container of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 showing placement of a generator and washer/dryer unit insidetherein;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view inside the container of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 showing a closer view of the washer/dryer unit inside therein;

FIGS. 13-20 f are various perspective and sectioned perspective views ofanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 21-25 are various perspective and sectioned perspective views(FIG. 22) of yet another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is of a preferred embodiment by way of exampleonly and without limitation to the combination of features necessary forcarrying the invention into effect. Reference is to be had to theFigures in which identical reference numbers identify similarcomponents. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certainfeatures are shown in schematic form in the interest of clarity andconciseness.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, there isillustrated an exemplary embodiment of apparatus, method and systemaccording to the present invention, the apparatus generally referred toby the numeral 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-12, the fluid treatment apparatus 10 fortreating contaminated fluid (not shown) comprises a base member 12 and aperipheral containment wall 14, each preferably made of plate steel.Preferably, the outside of the peripheral containment wall 14 isinsulated (which is preferably a two-inch thick R10 insulation). Morepreferably, the peripheral wall, and any insulation, is covered by ½inch thick arena board (also known as puck board) or other high densitypolyethylene material. Advantageously, the insulation and arena boardprevent heat loss through the peripheral wall and function to keep theperipheral wall cool to the touch (thereby easing any safety concernsthat might otherwise exist due to hot fluid or boiling waste water thatmay be present inside the apparatus 10).

Even more preferably, the apparatus 10, is mounted on a supportingplatform 16, which could be a skid. By using a skid 16 for mountingapparatus 10, additional components of the system of the presentinvention, such as a fuel tank 18 and electric generator 19 (shownplaced inside a container 17) to provide the necessary power, can bemounted together on the platform 16, and the system is made mobile.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12, the base member 12 and peripheralcontainment wall 14 each contain and define two distinct regions withdistinct functionality with respect to contaminated fluid treatment,namely an evaporation region 20 and a boiler region 22. Preferably, thetop of the evaporation region 20 is substantially open to the atmosphere(to facilitate evaporation of fluids that may be within said region)while the boiler region is a substantially closed vessel having onlylimited apertures that function as inlet and outlet, as furtherdescribed below.

More preferably, the boiler region 22 is wholly within the evaporationregion 20, as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12. Yet even morepreferably, the top of the boiler region 22 is below the top of theevaporation region 20. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12, the top of theboiler region is three (3) feet high (from the base member 12) while theperipheral containment wall is seven (7) feet tall. However, it iscontemplated that in an alternate embodiment (not shown), the boilerregion 22 is only partially within the evaporation region 20.

In a preferred embodiment, the base member 12 and peripheral containmentwall 14 define a total volume of 7.9 m³ with the evaporation region 20having a volume of 6.8 m³ and the boiler region 22 having a volume of1.1 m³. Preferably the evaporation region 20 is generally enclosed witha mesh or grate type cover to allow vapors to escape the evaporationregion 20 (in the typical fashion of the prior art noted above) whilepreventing workers, tools and debris from accidentally falling into theevaporation region 20. Even more preferably, one or more sealed valvedconnection points 23 are provided in the peripheral containment wall 14to allow sealed connection of conventional vacuum truck hoses (notshown) between the apparatus 10 and a vacuum truck (not shown), therebyfacilitating either the filling with, or draining of, contaminated fluidinto, or from, the evaporation region 20.

The evaporation region 20 and boiler region 22 are separated by adividing member 24 which is also preferably made of plate steel andprevent flow or transfer of contaminated fluid between said regions 20and 22. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12, the dividing member 24comprises a bottom base 24 b, a peripheral wall 24 p and a top cover 24t, wherein a portion of the base member 12 and a portion of theperipheral containment wall 14 also function as a portion of thedividing member's bottom base 24 b and peripheral wall 24 p respectively(as more clearly shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6). In other words, a portionof the base member 12 is coterminous or coincident with the bottom base24 b and a portion of the peripheral containment wall 14 is coterminousor coincident with a portion of the peripheral wall 24 p.

Preferably, a removable and re-sealable service or manhole cover 24 c isprovided to facilitate easy periodic maintenance of the boiler region 22when the apparatus is not in operation (said cover 24 c being normallyclosed and sealed, so as to prevent the flow or transfer of contaminatedfluid between said regions 20 and 22).

In another embodiment (not shown), the dividing member 24 is comprisedof a bottom base 24 b, a peripheral wall 24 p and a top cover 24 t thatare entirely separate and distinct from the base member 12 andperipheral containment wall 14. In this alternate embodiment thedividing member 24 fully encloses and defines the boiler region, isplaced within the evaporation region 20 and supported up off of the basemember 12 by means of legs. In yet another embodiment (not shown), thedividing member 24 is a generally cylindrical member defining the boilerregion 22.

At least one inlet 24 i and one outlet 24 o are provided to enableintroduction of contaminated fluid into the boiler region 22 (via inlet24 i) and to allow evaporated water (and steam) to exit to theatmosphere (via outlet 24 o). Fluid transfer means 26 are provided totransfer contaminated fluid from the evaporation region 20 to the boilerregion 22. Fluid level control means 28 are provided to ensure that asufficient air space remains within the boiler region 22 to allow forthe boiling of contaminated fluid while said fluids are in the boilerregion 22.

Preferably, the inlet 24 i and outlet 24 o are two (2) inch diameteropenings. More preferably, an exhaust pipe 30 is provided to directevaporated water (and steam) from the outlet 24 o to the atmosphere.Even more preferably, the exhaust pipe 30 is steel and makes multiplepasses within the evaporation region 20 before exiting to the atmosphere(see FIGS. 5 and 7), to allow for heat transfer from the evaporatingwater (and steam) to any contaminated fluid that may be in theevaporating region 20.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12, fluid transfer means 26 comprises afluid outlet 14 o in a portion of the peripheral wall 14 that is notcoterminous or coincident with the peripheral wall 24 p of the dividingmember 24, an electric fluid transfer pump 26 p, and fluid lines 261connecting the intake of the fluid transfer pump 26 p to fluid outlet 14o and connecting the output of the fluid transfer pump 26 p to the inlet24 i of the dividing member 24. Preferably fluid outlet 14 o is screenedto reduce or prevent the entry of solids into the fluid transfer means26 and, subsequently, the boiler region 22.

To enable heating of the contents in the boiler region 22, such ascontaminated fluid, the apparatus 10 is provided with heating means 32.In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1-12, the heating means 32 areelectric heating elements 32 e of the conventional “stab-in” typesealably inserted through peripheral wall 24 p (and peripheralcontainment wall 14) through heating apertures 34. In another embodiment(not shown), the contents of the boiler region 22 are heated in aconventional manner with heating means 32 comprising steam lines thatrun through the inside of said region 22. In another embodiment (alsonot shown), the contents of the boiler region 22 are heated by hotexhaust gases passing through exhaust piping placed within said region22, said hot exhaust gases originating from a burner (in a fashionsimilar to that described in the patent application by Page) and exitingvia an exhaust manifold.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12, fluid level control means 28 comprisesone or more float operated switches 50 positioned inside the boilerregion 22 to control the fluid transfer means 26, which includes fluidtransfer pump 26 p, to ensure that the contaminated fluid is kept near apredetermined level inside boiler region, said predetermined fluid levelbeing above the top of the heating means 32 (so as not to expose theheating means to the outside atmosphere), but preferably still lowenough to ensure that a sufficient air space remains within the boilerregion 22 to allow for the boiling of contaminated fluid.

In another embodiment (not shown), the fluid transfer means 26 is asimple gravity drain pipe between the evaporator region 20 and theboiler region 22 and the fluid level control means 28 comprises one ormore sight glasses (through the peripheral wall 24 p and peripheralcontainment wall 14) that allow an operator to view the fluid levelinside the boiler region 22. In this embodiment, the fluid level controlmeans 28 further comprises one or more valves that an operator of theapparatus 10 can actuate to control fluid flow through the fluidtransfer means 26, so as to allow fluid flow through said fluid transfermeans 26 (for example by gravity) and into the boiler region 22 (forexample, when fluid level in the boiler region 22 is lower thandesired), visually determine when said predetermined level is reached(by looking through the one or more sight glasses), and then actuatingthe one or more valves to stop the fluid flow through the fluid transfermeans 26.

Preferably the contaminated fluid treatment system of the presentinvention further comprises an electric generator 19 to provide theelectric power for the fluid transfer means 27, the and heating elements32. More preferably, the electric generator 19 is a diesel poweredgenerator and the contaminated fluid treatment system of the presentinvention further comprises a fuel tank 18 suitable to hold a quantityof diesel fuel. A suitable electric generator is a Caterpillar™ model3406 engine w/300 kW generator.

Even more preferably, the contaminated fluid treatment system of thepresent invention further comprises a container 17 and the electricgenerator 19 is placed inside the container, thereby keeping it shieldedfrom the outside elements and weather. Yet even more preferably, thecontaminated fluid treatment system of the present invention furthercomprises an electric washer/dryer unit 40, said unit 40 also beingplaced inside the container 17. Advantageously, the contaminated fluidtreatment system of the present invention will not only treatcontaminated fluids, but also provide convenient washer/dryercapabilities for individuals that are working on, or near, the apparatus10. More advantageously, waste water output from the washer can beconveniently directed into the evaporation region 22 (e.g. by means ofconventional hose or pipe) where it can be treated by the apparatus.

During operation, and with reference to the preferred embodiment shownin FIGS. 1-12, contaminated fluid is placed in the evaporation region20, such as via transfer hose placed simply over the top of theperipheral containment wall or via one or more of the sealed valvedconnection points 23 (if so present). Some of the contaminated fluid isthen transferred from the evaporation region 20, via the fluid transfermeans 26, to the boiler region 22 until the predetermined level isreached, at which point heating means 32 are actuated to effect boilingof the contaminated fluid inside the boiler region 22. The boiled offgases (typically steam) exit from the boiler region 22, via outlet 24 oand exhaust pipe 30, to the atmosphere. When a sufficient quantify ofcontaminated fluid is boiled off from inside the boiler region 22, fluidlevel control means 28 actuate the fluid transfer means 26 to bring thelevel of contaminated fluid within the boiler region 22 to near thepre-determined level.

Advantageously, by limiting the boiler region 22 to a smaller volume ofthe apparatus (in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12, to 1.1 m³ of the total7.9 m³ volume of the apparatus), by substantially enclosing the boilerregion 22 with the dividing member 24 and by only providing a smalloutlet 24 o for the exiting of boiled off gases the apparatus 10 of thepresent invention is able to bring the contaminated fluid (that isinside the boiler region 22) to a boil much quicker than the devices ofthe prior art. Using the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12, starting withcontaminated fluid at a temperature of approximately 15 C and fillingthe boiler region 22 to the predetermined level, the inventor was ableto reach boiling point in under one (1) hour.

More advantageously, by positioning the boiler region 22 is at leastpartially within the apparatus and the evaporation region 20, the heatenergy that is traditionally lost to the atmosphere (when using atraditional boiler) is simply transferred to within the evaporationregion 20 where it acts to speed up evaporation of the contaminatedfluid that is within said evaporation region 20. Using the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-12, wherein the boiler region 22 is fully within the apparatus10 and below the typical level of contaminated fluid in the evaporationregion 20 (i.e. having a substantial volume of contaminated fluid levelplaced above the boiler region 22), the inventor has observed that theapparatus 10 will return anywhere from 12 m³ to 16 m³ of water to theatmosphere by both evaporation from the evaporation region 20 andboiling from the boiling region 22.

Even more advantageously, any solid contaminates that may be present inthe contaminated fluid will simply settle to the bottom of theevaporation region 20, and/or will be screened by the screened outlet 14o, thereby reducing or eliminating contaminant build up on the heatingmeans 32 that has traditionally plagued the devices of the prior art.Yet even more advantageously, descaling or contaminant removalchemicals, can be added to boiler region 22 (either via manhole cover 24c, prior to operations) or through fluid transfer means 26.Advantageously, because the boiler region 22 is separate from theevaporation region 20, less of such chemical is needed to maintainoptimal effective concentrations.

Additional Embodiments

The additional embodiment shown in FIGS. 13-20 f is substantiallysimilar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12, but the configuration of thefluid transfer means 26 is different, as further described below.

In addition to a providing a first fluid outlet 14 o (in a portion ofthe peripheral wall 14 that is not coterminous or coincident with theperipheral wall 24 p of the dividing member 24), a second fluid outlet14 p is provided in a portion of the peripheral wall 14 that iscoterminous with the peripheral wall 24 p of the dividing member 24, sothat fluid may be withdrawn from either the evaporation region 20 (viaoutlet 14 o) or the boiler region 22 (via outlet 14 p). In thisembodiment, inlet 24 i is positioned at a level that is higher than thelevel of second fluid outlet 14 p and additional valving is provided tothe fluid lines 261 to allow an operator to select from where the fluidtransfer pump 26 p (not shown in FIGS. 13-20 a, but see FIGS. 20 b-20 f)draws its intake fluid, i.e. from the evaporation region 20 via firstfluid outlet 14 o or from the boiler region via second fluid outlet 14 p(or both). Preferably, fluid output from fluid transfer pump 26 p isdirected, via a short section of pipe nozzles 26 n, over the heatingelements 32 e (thereby preventing or reducing settlement of contaminantsor scaling of minerals over said elements 32 e).

More preferably, a chemical compartment 26 c (having a sealable opening26 s) is provided wherein said compartment 26 c is in fluidcommunication with the fluid lines from the second fluid outlet 14 p, soas to allow an operator to easily insert a quantity of treatmentchemicals (such as a descaler) into the fluid lines (through sealableopening 26 s) and recirculate the fluid within the boiler region 22 todissolve such chemicals and distribute same over the heating elements 32e.

Yet even more preferably, a filter screening box 26 b having a sealable,removable top, and a screen element (not shown) provided within, isprovided along the intake portion of the fluid lines 261.Advantageously, the screen element reduces or prevents entry of solidsinto the fluid transfer pump 26 p and, subsequently, the boiler region22. More advantageously, since the screening box 26 b has a sealable,removable top, the screen element can be easily removed to be cleaned orreplaced.

Now referring to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 21-25, this embodiment issubstantially similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12, but wherein thegenerator 19 is a diesel powered generator, having an exhaust 19 e, andwhich further comprises a heat exchanger 60 positioned adjacent andabove the apparatus 10. Preferably, heat exchanger 60 is a simplecylindrical vessel made of steel and having an interior space or volume61, an inlet 60 i and an outlet 60 o. In this embodiment, the exhaust 30(from outlet 24 o) is directed into the interior space 61, while dieselexhaust 19 e is sealably routed through the said interior space 61,preferably in a co-axial alignment as shown in the FIGS. 21-25 (i.e.heat exchanger 60 is sealably positioned around a section of theexterior of the diesel exhaust 19 e). Preferably the exterior of thediesel exhaust 19 e which is outside of the heat exchanger 60 is coveredwith a conventional heat insulating material, so as to provide formaximum heat transfer from the generator's 19 exhaust to the interior 61of the heat exchanger 60. Even more preferably, the heat exchanger 60 islikewise covered with a conventional heat insulating material.

Advantageously, the evaporated water (and steam) that exits the outlet24 o and passes through exhaust 30 is directed to the interior space 61wherein some of it then condenses and subsequently absorbs additionalheat from the diesel exhaust 19 e converting it into steam once again.Preferably, this reheated condensed water is then directed back into theevaporation region 20 of the apparatus 10 via outlet 60 o and secondexhaust section 30 o (see FIGS. 23 and 25), thereby capturing some ofthe heat from the generator 30 that otherwise would have be lost to theatmosphere and adding that to the contaminated fluid in the evaporationregion 20 and/or by further evaporating some of the condensed water outthe outlet 60 o, thereby further increasing the overall evaporation rateand efficiency of the apparatus 10. In another embodiment, outlet 60 ois positioned high up on the heat exchanger 60 and functions as a simpleexhaust opening for steam.

In either of these embodiments, and during operation, the interior space61 is allowed to partially fill with condensed water over time and theheat exchanger then functions as a secondary boiler region, powered byheat energy from the generator 30.

Now referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 26, this embodiment isnearly identical to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12, but exhaust 30directed downward back over top of the evaporation region 20, preferablyover top of the mesh or grate type cover, to allow any condensed (butstill hot) water to fall easily back into said evaporation region 20(rather than be sprayed violently upward), while still allowing for anysteam to escape to the atmosphere. Advantageously, all such condensedwater is directed into the evaporation region 20, rather than outsidethe apparatus 10, and thereby the heat energy within such condensedwater will be added to the contaminated fluids within the evaporationregion 20, aiding the overall evaporation thereof.

In the claims, the word “comprising” is used in its inclusive sense anddoes not exclude other elements being present. The indefinite article“a” before a claim feature does not exclude more than one of thefeatures being present.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that variousmodifications to the invention as described herein will be possiblewithout falling outside the scope of the invention.

1. An apparatus for treating contaminated fluid comprising: a basemember; a peripheral containment wall connected to the base member, thebase member and peripheral containment wall defining a containmentvolume; and a dividing member for dividing the containment volume intoan evaporation region for receiving contaminated fluid and a boilerregion for heating contaminated fluid; the evaporation region beingsubstantially open to atmosphere; the boiler region being substantiallyclosed and comprising an inlet to introduce contaminated fluid into theboiler region, an outlet to allow evaporated water to exit the boilerregion and heating means to heat any contents in the boiler region; andfluid transfer means to transfer contaminated fluid from the evaporationregion to the boiler region.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theperipheral wall is insulated.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theboiler region is wholly within the evaporation region.
 4. The apparatusof claim 3, wherein the top of the boiler region is below the top of theevaporation region.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the boilerregion is partially within the evaporation region.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the dividing member further comprises a removable andre-sealable service cover to facilitate easy periodic maintenance of theboiler region when the apparatus is not in operation.
 7. The apparatusof claim 1 further comprising fluid level control means.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising an exhaust to direct evaporatedwater from the outlet to atmosphere.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 whereinthe exhaust is a length of steel pipe that makes multiple passes withinthe evaporation region before exiting to atmosphere.
 10. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein the heating means are electric elements sealablyinserted into the boiler region.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe heating means are steam lines that run through the inside of theboiler region.
 12. A system for treating contaminated fluid comprising:the apparatus of claim 10; and an electric generator to provide theelectric power for the electric elements.
 13. The system of claim 12wherein the electric generator is a diesel powered generator.
 14. Thesystem of claim 13 further comprising a container to house the electricgenerator inside thereof.
 15. The system of claim 14 further comprisingan electric washer/dryer unit housed within the container.
 16. Thesystem of claim 15 wherein the waste water output from the washer/dryerunit is directed into the evaporation region.
 17. The system of claim 13wherein the electric generator further comprises a generator exhaust andwherein the system further comprises a heat exchanger capable ofreceiving evaporated water from the boiler region.
 18. A method oftreating contaminated fluid comprising: providing an evaporation regionfor receiving contaminated fluid; providing a boiler regionsubstantially closed and placed at least partially within theevaporation region and having an inlet, for receiving contaminated fluidfrom the evaporation region, and having an outlet to allow evaporatedwater to exit; placing contaminated fluid in the evaporation region;transferring some of the contaminated fluid in the evaporation region tothe boiler region; heating the contaminated fluid in the boiler regionto effect boiling thereof; allowing boiled off gases to exit from theboiler region via the outlet; and allowing some of the heat energy fromthe boiler region to transfer to the evaporation region.